The Crossing Gate. Model railroad discussion.

The simple concept of where do you look? How do we apply this to our layouts and create scenes or places that draw the eye? How do we design and keep a scene from being cluttered?  Do you design the background, the foreground, and a signature scene for your layout? Planning and working on this visualization can make a layout really come to life.  This episode of the Crossing gate is sponsored by T...

Episode #19 - Hurdles in Model railroading. The crew discusses overcoming obstacles. What has been in your way of a better layout, models, engines, or anything else? You may not become the Edwin Moses of Model Trains, but hopefully, you can overcome some difficult portions of this hobby.  This episode is sponsored by The Local Model Railroad Club. We also feature a Gripe from the Curmudgeon. This...

What things from the prototype inspire your modeling. What have you learned about prototype operations that have changed your mind about things on your layout?  If you stick to what real railroads did in certain eras, your entire layout will improve, even if you model a freelanced railroad.  Join the crew as we discuss how modeling prototype practices have helped our modeling, building, and even n...

Planning your next layout, or want to redo your current one? The crew discusses some things that went well for them and things that did not go well. The voice of experience is a great teacher. What three things would you tell others to include or avoid? We also have a new intro and our first sponsor. Blue Tubs! Join the crew of Eric Boone, Thomas Gasior MMR, Mike Jordan, Luke Lemmens,  and  Ken Zi...

This episode is about improving your locomotive performance. Focusing on Mike Jordans attempts at making the Bachmann 70 Ton GE run better. Adding an NWSL Stanton drive and other fixes suggested by the crew.  We discuss bad gears and some solutions. Join Eric Boone, Thomas Gasior MMR, David Hamilton, Mike Jordan, and William Sampson as they discuss locomotive improvements and frustrations. 

The crew discusses building a large home layout. What are the advantages and disadvantages. What is the cost, the time, the skills you will need? How are operations set up for a large layout different from a medium-size or small layout? Many more topics are touched on in this intriguing conversation focused on building the layout that is the right size for you. Join David Hamilton, Mike Jordan, Lu...

Mistakes happen, and how you deal with them will define you as a modeler. Do you redo the whole project? Do you push it away and wait for an epiphany to sort it out? Do you move on and sell it or even trash? Or are you a "Sucker for hope?" and will cling to this for a long time. Join Joe Binish, Thomas Gasior MMR, Dave Hamilton, William Sampson, and Ken Zieska as they discuss their mista...

Do you choose an industry and then purchase rolling stock, or do you create an industry to fit the cars you have on hand? The crew discusses how they find and fit industries on their layouts using everything from a phone book to an Internet search engine. Join Joe Binish, Greg Dahl, Thomas Gasior MMR, Dave Hamilton, Mike Jordan, and Ken Zieska as they discuss industries and their value to layouts...

In this episode, we dig deep in the resin with Eric Jon Boone. Join Joe Binish, Greg Dahl, Dave Hamilton, and Thomas Gasior MMR. Eric has been working with CAD for many years. He has now combined that skill with the new 3D printers available to all of us and is producing one-of-a-kind boxcars and more for his Pere Marquette layout.  The crew discusses the future of 3D printing plus how it might af...

Episode #11 -  3D printing, layout design advice, roads and highway lines, plus more unsolicited advice. We welcome Eric Jon Boone to our crew. Eric is a CAD artist and likes to use his skills for 3D printing, laser cutting, and other hobby interest. He is also building a new layout based on the Pere Marquette in Michigan. Mike Jordan, Ken Zieska, and Thomas Gasior MMR offer plenty of advice on la...

Do you have a stash of projects that just can't find the light of day? Blue Tubs filled with someday items? Projects hid behind the layout skirting in shame? Does looking at them bring you happiness or despair? Our panel discusses these projects and how we have dealt with them in the past and currently. Greg Dahl, Dan Dossa, Thomas Gasior MMR, David Hamilton, Mike Jordan, and Ken Zieska join...

We finish the discussion from episode #8 about finding hobby time. Then we host an after-show chat and talk about all things trains. Solving the world's modeling problems this show are: Joe Binish, Greg Dahl, Thomas Gasior, Mike Jordan, David Hamilton, William Sampson, and Ken Zieska.

The crew talks about finding time each day to work on projects and the layout. Find out what motivates them, who inspires them, and how to avoid burnout and paralysis by analysis. This is a two-part show. It was too good to fit all into one episode. Join Joe Binish, Greg Dahl, Thomas Gasior MMR, Dave Hamilton, Mike Jordan, William Sampson, and Ken Zieska for a fun and interesting round table discu...

Mike Jordan discusses the operations on his Santa Maria Industrial Railroad layout. The majority of the work on this layout involves fruit and produce packing.  Learn how he adapted the moves the prototype did to get the huge California harvest to the rest of the nation. From cleaning cars to fumigating, icing many times over, and even rebuilding cars due to damage from ice/salt mixtures. He creat...

Jim Rindt, Mike Slater, and Thomas Gasior MMR discuss the state of today's modeling using electrified railroads as a focus. New products have featured some amazing electric motive power. Is this a resurgence in overhead wire modeling? Do you even need an overhead wire to model an electrified line? From Trolleys to interurbans to the Northeast corridor and more. This episode will leave you ful...

Dan Dossa, William Sampson, and Thomas Gasior MMR discuss Planting your layout. Yes, Planting, not planning. Things you can add to your layout to let visitors know where and when your layout fits in the real world. Is it in the western foothills in 1932, the north woods of Minnesota in the late 1960s, or the gritty industrial alleys of a big city in 1990? Stick around after the credits for the fir...

Ken, Joe Greg Dahl and Tom discuss the idea that large industries or commodities such as ore and coal are great for sustainign your hobby. Large industries increase the plausibility of the layout and narrow your focus, which improves your modeling. Also helps with your modeling budget and time.

Ken, Tom, and Dave Hamilton. the crew discusses Daves's scratch building of four freight cars to earn his NMRA AP Rolling stock certificate. Ken talks about the uses of sanding grout as ground material for scenery and then everyone talks about their favorite recycled containers for storing scenery supplies.

Thomas Gasior MMR, Ken Zieska, Dan Dossa, Greg Dahl, and Dave Hamilton discuss how they keep their layouts running in top form. Tips and tools used for reliability in layout maintenance.

Discussion  about operations on your layout and the use of car cards and waybills. Model Railroading. Model Trains. Scale Models. NMRA.